Manchester United, maestros of the helter-skelter comeback, produced another surging late show to take all three points from a match they were losing 2-0 after 48 minutes and remain top of the Premier League table. Not just behind but effectively smothered by a well-organised and energetic Aston Villa, this had looked to be a bridge too far for United, who were limp in the first-half but energised by a switch to a revolving 4-2-4 formation after the break. In the end it was Javier Hernández, a half-time substitute, who made all the difference here, electrifying United's front line, scoring twice and forcing the own goal that levelled the scores.

"It was an amazing game and Villa played fantastically, they've run their socks off," Alex Ferguson said. "We never gave in, we hit the bar twice and after the second goal we came alive. It was a fantastic game. We were careless in the first half, there was no tempo to the game, we didn't have a shot at goal."

The United manager was understandably lavish in his praise for Hernández, who has scored seven goals in his past four games. "He does his natural thing. He's fantastic in the box, his movement and his getting into space has got him three goals today. He's fresh this season. He's had a good summer break and it's made a difference to him."

It was not supposed to be like this: if there is a Premier League journey United tend to make in expectation rather than hope then this is probably it, their 17-match unbeaten record at Villa Park an enduring record for travelling invincibility. Never mind that United arrived to face a team three matches unbeaten and in the throes of a cautious revival. With Villa's midfield depleted and with Paul Lambert giving the Irish left-back Enda Stevens his first start, there was a sense of fatalism in some quarters of Villa Park before the kick-off.

Villa started brightly, though, in front a boisterous early evening full house, dropping off as Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes controlled possession and then playing with some thrust on the counterattack. With Chris Smalling returning to United's defence alongside Rio Ferdinand, there were some early suggestions of porousness and, with Stephen Ireland detailed to snap at Scholes whenever he received the ball, Villa managed to get to the half-hour mark without coming under any sustained pressure.

Ireland continued to float with purpose, shooting powerfully wide from 25 yards as Villa again stole the ball, and with Barry Bannan increasingly perky in the centre of the pitch Villa took a deserved lead just on half-time. It was a moment Smalling will want to forget. Twice shrugged aside by Christian Benteke on the left touchline, the England centre-half could only watch from a prone position as Benteke played a cute cutback for Andreas Weimann to shoot emphatically past David de Gea. It was a lovely finish from the 21-year-old Austrian and his first goal of the season.

United emerged reconfigured after half-time, with Hernández on in place of Ashley Young, who had been anonymous apart from the Villa boos. No matter, though: Villa's second arrived within three minutes. Ireland's diagonal pass found Gabriel Agbonlahor in space behind Rafael da Silva. His ball across the box was low and hard and Weimann was there to finish unmarked six yards out.

There was a sense of inevitability about what came next. Hernández made it 2-1 on 58 minutes, showing the value of his speed and movement as Villa's high defensive line was caught out by a flighted pass over the top by Scholes. Hernández held off Ciaran Clark and slotted the ball through Brad Guzan's legs.

Within four minutes the scores were level as United finally breached Villa's left flank. It was another excellent pass from Scholes inside Stevens for Rafael. His cross was volleyed back across goal by Hernández and the ball deflected in off Ron Vlaar for an own goal, albeit Hernández, like Ferguson, disagreed ("It was hitting the target," he said).

Villa pushed forward, almost scoring again as Weimann drew a brilliant save from De Gea with a header from Bannan's cross. Scholes was replaced by Tom Cleverley on 70 minutes, just as Robin van Persie, hitherto peripheral, headed Wayne Rooney's corner against the crossbar from three yards out. It was still wobbling when the Dutchman struck it again 30 seconds later, this time with a dipping left-foot shot.

United were pressing strongly, albeit with Rooney limping after a strong but fair challenge by Matthew Lowton. He left the pitch on 78 minutes, replaced by Anderson. Roy Hodgson will have experienced a familiar sinking feeling watching a third of his selected England strike force leave the pitch before the trip to Sweden.

The winner arrived with four minutes remaining. Van Persie's deep free-kick was met in the penalty area by Hernández, twisting to head the ball past Guzan and into the corner.

At the final whistle United's players all ran to the Mexican, the lead man in another act of thrilling escapology.